UofSC honors top students at Awards Day

The annual Awards Day program was held on the historic Horseshoe on Thursday.

The University of South Carolina presented its top honors, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan
and Steven N. Swanger awards, to four graduating seniors during the university’s annual
Awards Day ceremony Thursday on the historic Horseshoe.

Riley Xavier Brady, James Frederick Weber Pike and Caroline Linnea Westberg received
the Sullivan awards, the university’s highest honor for undergraduates. Sullivan awards
are given each year for outstanding achievements, campus leadership, exemplary character
and service to the community. The award is named for the 19th-century New York lawyer
and philanthropist.

Morgan Elaine Lundy received the Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award, the university’s
second-highest undergraduate honor. The award is named for a former president of Omicron
Delta Kappa (ODK), which sponsors the university’s Awards Day. It is given to a graduating
senior for exemplary leadership and for making significant contributions to the Carolina
community.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan award

Riley Xavier Brady

Brady, a McNair Scholar and member of the South Carolina Honors College, maintained
a 3.912 GPA as a marine science major. He also received the Outstanding Undergraduate
Award in Marine Science and was recognized with a graduate fellowship from the Department
of Energy. He is a 2015 Goldwater Scholar, a 2014 Magellan Scholar and a 2013 Hollings
Scholar.

He is a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, serving on the new member education committee
for three years; was director of education for Green Greeks; and was the co-founder
for Walk Home Cocky, a safety initiative on campus. Brady was a University 101 peer
leader, intern in both the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs and Sustainable
Carolina, a Magellan Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research and a student
mentor for Buddies Beyond Borders, Freshman Council and several other organizations.
He worked all four years as an undergraduate research assistant in the Ecosystem Oceanography
and Climate Change Lab.

In addition, he plays the guitar at venues around Columbia, and he was named the 2014
Homecoming King.

In his personal statement, he says: “Looking back on my years, I feel that I have
accomplished my initial goal of making use of the diverse opportunities around me
and to leave an impact in the process. Most importantly, I believe that I have exemplified
the Carolinian spirit along the way: my involvement has been well-rounded, passionate,
and genuine; I have lead, studied, and served in many contexts; my words and actions
have embodied the Carolinian Creed; and I have made lasting connections with my peers,
professors, and community. Although proud of my accolades and involvement, I am most
concerned with being remembered for my character. To me, an outstanding student is
not one who is consumed with titles, plaques or an impressive resume; rather, they
find success in their endeavors while striving to be a role model to others.”

James Frederick Weber Pike

Pike has been a student-athlete and involved in numerous student activities at Carolina
while earning a 3.934 GPA in biomedical engineering. A Hamilton Scholar, he is a member
of Phi Beta Kappa and served as treasurer for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.
He participates in undergraduate research as a research assistant at the School of
Medicine.

As a member of the Gamecock baseball team, he was redshirted in 2013 and played in
both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee,
where he helped organize community service activities for all student-athletes. He
also made the All-SEC Honor Roll all four years. He is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Fraternity and the Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Project Team.

In his personal statement, he says: “When I was young, I learned the importance of
a strong work ethic. My dad always told me that in order to succeed, I had to work
as if there was always someone out there working harder and doing more than me. My
mom instilled in me a desire to perform well in school and always stressed the importance
of maintaining good grades and getting a quality education. These core values are
now a part of me. Of all my activities, I believe my greatest contribution to the
university comes from my involvement in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. I
was honored to be chosen by my team to be one of our two representatives. An outstanding
senior demonstrates significant achievement in service, leadership and academics,
and I have strived to exemplify these values in all I have done during my time at
USC.”

Caroline Linnea Westberg

As an international studies major, Westberg has maintained a 3.955 GPA while being
involved in numerous leadership activities. She was named USC’s Outstanding Woman
of the Year for 2016 and is pursuing graduation with leadership distinction in two
tracks – global learning and professional and civic engagement.

A Woodrow Scholar, she is a resident mentor, a Leadership Scholar and a Green Scholars
mentor. As a senior, she founded Women LEAD, a women’s leadership certification program
in the Leadership and Service Center. She was involved with residence hall government
and mentored students through the Emerging Leaders Program, Buddies Beyond Borders
and as a conversation partner for English Programs for Internationals.

After her sophomore year, she took a gap year and served as a member of the AmeriCorps
National Civilian Community Corp, where she devoted 1,700 hours to community service
through a partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. During that time,
she received the Congressional Award given by the U.S. Congress for outstanding commitment
to community service, along with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. After returning
to Carolina for her junior year, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium, and worked
as an intern at the Fulbright Commission of Belgium, Luxembourg and the United States.
She has participated in several alternative break trips, including going to Thailand
to work with elephant conservation.

In her personal statement, she says: “My impact on the Carolina community has been
shaped by my drive to empower others to lead and find their own potential to create
positive change within their corner of the world. I have discovered a simple idea:
leadership empowerment cultivates connection and drive. By guiding others through
the exhilarating process of realizing their leadership potential, inspiring them to
harness their unique leadership power, and pushing them to lead within their own communities,
I have become aware of the dynamic and formidable nature of this idea. My most noteworthy
contribution at USC is my personal endeavor to engage this idea by establishing a
sustainable and diverse Women’s Leadership Certificate Program through the Leadership
and Service Center that creates a supportive community of women to explore the challenges
we face in society, discover their own leadership potential, and empower them to lead
fearlessly within Carolina and beyond.”

Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award

Morgan Elaine Lundy

Lundy, the recipient of the Steven N. Swanger Award has, earned a 3.984 GPA as an
English major in the Honors College while focusing on gaining skills through leadership,
service and mentoring others.

She is a McNair Scholar and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa.

She has devoted many hours in the Leadership and Service Center, serving as the alternative
breaks student coordinator and site leader for several trips, an impact weekly service
program site leader, flood relief coordinator and social justice dialogues facilitator.

Lundy was a resident mentor, a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program and Pillars
for Carolina extended orientation mentor. She has been president and treasurer of
INK!, the undergraduate English association. She is pursing graduation with leadership
distinction in community service, global learning and professional and civic engagement.

In her personal statement, she says: “My ability to become ‘outstanding’ at USC is
simply due to the sheer number of opportunities available to grow as a student, leader,
citizen and person while blazing new trails and starting initiatives. Flourishing
in this culture, I pushed academic limits in my creative research and dynamic course
load, pushed myself to take on leadership roles in the organizations I am passionate
about, and supported others in finding their way at USC through mentorship roles and
service leadership. The education USC has given me, and what I have sought and found
for myself through beyond the classroom experiences, will carry with me in a career
continuing these passions to equip and empower others to succeed.”

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